‘12 of 16 stops for EDSA Busway soon open’

MANILA, Philippines — Officials of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) presented yesterday the features of the new EDSA Busway, which will utilize existing structures of the railway systems and footbridges in the metropolis.

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago and Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran took reporters on a tour of the Guadalupe and Ortigas bus stops, two of the 16 stops of the EDSA Busway.

The busway will utilize the footbridges and platforms of the Metro Rail Transit Line-3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit Line-1 (LRT-1) stations and will be located at the innermost lane of EDSA.

Of the 16 bus stops, 12 will soon be ready for use after the installation of waiting sheds and placement of concrete barriers below the MRT-3 and LRT-1, according to Pialago.

Four of the bus stops – Nepa Q Mart, Ayala, Taft and Pasay – will still be cleared for construction with the Department of Public Works and Highways, Pialago said.

Some of the bus stops may be accessed through the MRT-3 platform, which is connected to the center island bus stops by a stairway.

Lifts will be installed to accommodate pregnant passengers, senior citizens and persons with disability.

At least 550 buses are expected to ply the EDSA route once the busway is in full swing, Libiran said.

She said some of the bus stops may be operational by July after the delivery of 36,000 concrete barriers procured by the DOTr.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board yesterday put up mini-loop routes on the Monumento-MRT Quezon Avenue station and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange–Ayala routes to service passengers going to EDSA. A Timog-Santolan route will be in place starting tomorrow.

The MMDA has installed hazard markers on the barriers to improve visibility after a series of accidents occurred along EDSA.

“Yellow flashing lights have been placed in strategic locations on EDSA to guide the motorists,” MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said.